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Before You Go: Wisdom from Ten Women Who Served Internationally
Are you preparing to take the gospel to the nations?
You’ve said “yes” to God’s call to go, and now you will pack up your things and step into the unknown of a new location, people, and culture. The following years will likely include great joy, frustration, homesickness, difficulty, and excitement. In this book, ten women who have served on the mission field share what they wish they had known before they began.
This book is a handbook for entering the mission field, including essays
These essays are from Emily Bennett (general editor), Ruth Ripken, Cyndi Logsdon, Hilary Alan, CJ Olivia, Lydia Pettus, Emily Watkins, Sydney Dixon, Amy Bowman, and Nina Buser.
You’ve said “yes” to God’s call to go, and now you will pack up your things and step into the unknown of a new location, people, and culture. The following years will likely include great joy, frustration, homesickness, difficulty, and excitement. In this book, ten women who have served on the mission field share what they wish they had known before they began.
This book is a handbook for entering the mission field, including essays
These essays are from Emily Bennett (general editor), Ruth Ripken, Cyndi Logsdon, Hilary Alan, CJ Olivia, Lydia Pettus, Emily Watkins, Sydney Dixon, Amy Bowman, and Nina Buser.
192 pages, Paperback
Published October 24, 2023
2 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 9, 2025
Within the first few chapters of this book I started crying. So many questions and thoughts that have went through my head as I have wrestled with a longing to go overseas were answered with poignant and sincere words, words supported by Scripture! It was as if I was having coffee with one of them. I cannot recommend this book enough! All of these women write with sincerity, wisdom, and love—a love that comes from Christ. I am encouraged and challenged in my current season of life and informed in new ways for whatever God may have for me next.
November 21, 2024
A good place to start! ❤️
March 5, 2024
While the authors reference overseas life, most of this is relevant and helpful for any woman seeking to live in Christ and for God’s Kingdom.
March 31, 2025
This series has a book geared towards men and this one towards ladies. Both are very good! Below are some of my personal takeaways from this book:
Since we don’t hear God’s audible voice, how can we know or decide on God’s leading in our lives? When the Bible, your internal desires, external circumstances, and church’s affirmation all align, then it is a great indication to take the next step of faith in obedience.
Seek counsel from your local church when considering where you will serve.
What character traits should you seek to develop as you seek to serve as a missionary?
Though it is not easy to leave home or the familiar, remember that leaving is part of the Bible way.
Let Scripture be the loudest voice you listen to or hear. It is the only voice that is always truth and will never lead you astray.
Abiding in Jesus is what will sustain you.
Learning to let go is very important. When you release things you love, you can make room for other things God will teach you to love.
Remember, it is Jesus who asked you to go, so do not have a spirit of “do you know what I gave up for you” towards those to whom you minister.
Pray big prayers and expect for God to work.
Language is not a party trick you will use to impress people back home, it is the vehicle you will use to carry the saving message to others.
You will face suffering, but will it cause you to run to Christ or flee from the hard times?
You will walk through seasons of suffering, but you will not be alone.
Missions and motherhood. One of the greatest things in life is raising children. One of the hardest things in life is raising children.
Don’t let fear or “This has never been done” to stop you from involving your kids on the mission field.
Having a passion for the Lord and a plane ticket does not prepare you for the trials you will face on the mission field.
So many of the missionaries that leave the mission field do so because they were caught off guard by the difficulties of the field.
Good missionary training does not mean you will avoid all trials, but it does mean you prepare as best as possible and trust God with the rest.
The best way to reign in the madness is to focus on the truth.
You can detect if something is an idol by your world falling apart when that area is touched by adversity.
Loving the Lord drives serving the Lord.
The missionary life might look like dying to your preferences, but it is for the Lord and well worth it.
Let your choice for a place and people be out of your love for God.
Since we don’t hear God’s audible voice, how can we know or decide on God’s leading in our lives? When the Bible, your internal desires, external circumstances, and church’s affirmation all align, then it is a great indication to take the next step of faith in obedience.
Seek counsel from your local church when considering where you will serve.
What character traits should you seek to develop as you seek to serve as a missionary?
Though it is not easy to leave home or the familiar, remember that leaving is part of the Bible way.
Let Scripture be the loudest voice you listen to or hear. It is the only voice that is always truth and will never lead you astray.
Abiding in Jesus is what will sustain you.
Learning to let go is very important. When you release things you love, you can make room for other things God will teach you to love.
Remember, it is Jesus who asked you to go, so do not have a spirit of “do you know what I gave up for you” towards those to whom you minister.
Pray big prayers and expect for God to work.
Language is not a party trick you will use to impress people back home, it is the vehicle you will use to carry the saving message to others.
You will face suffering, but will it cause you to run to Christ or flee from the hard times?
You will walk through seasons of suffering, but you will not be alone.
Missions and motherhood. One of the greatest things in life is raising children. One of the hardest things in life is raising children.
Don’t let fear or “This has never been done” to stop you from involving your kids on the mission field.
Having a passion for the Lord and a plane ticket does not prepare you for the trials you will face on the mission field.
So many of the missionaries that leave the mission field do so because they were caught off guard by the difficulties of the field.
Good missionary training does not mean you will avoid all trials, but it does mean you prepare as best as possible and trust God with the rest.
The best way to reign in the madness is to focus on the truth.
You can detect if something is an idol by your world falling apart when that area is touched by adversity.
Loving the Lord drives serving the Lord.
The missionary life might look like dying to your preferences, but it is for the Lord and well worth it.
Let your choice for a place and people be out of your love for God.
April 5, 2024
“We seek wisdom because we are not the ones who determine the future.”
✝️✈️🥰
This book might seem random for me because am I planning on becoming an overseas missionary? No, (though I totally think we can be called at any time to do something like that!) but I’ve found value in reading books that don’t 100% match up to my own life. It helps my world open up more and see things from different perspectives.
I loved that this book had so many different missionary voices. Women who are moms, wives, single, empty nesters, and others who shares their wisdom and experiences. Every single person has quite a few stories to tell and it was fascinating just to hear snippets!
There’s a lot of practical advice in here if you ARE planning on being a missionary. But even if not (like me), in general this book had lots of good nuggets on growing in your faith life and trusting in God’s plan.
✝️✈️🥰
This book might seem random for me because am I planning on becoming an overseas missionary? No, (though I totally think we can be called at any time to do something like that!) but I’ve found value in reading books that don’t 100% match up to my own life. It helps my world open up more and see things from different perspectives.
I loved that this book had so many different missionary voices. Women who are moms, wives, single, empty nesters, and others who shares their wisdom and experiences. Every single person has quite a few stories to tell and it was fascinating just to hear snippets!
There’s a lot of practical advice in here if you ARE planning on being a missionary. But even if not (like me), in general this book had lots of good nuggets on growing in your faith life and trusting in God’s plan.
January 13, 2025
It's hard to get any better than hearing stories of failure, triumph, and God's faithfulness through it all!
A must-read for women who:
-are preparing to be missionaries
-have recently landed in their host countries
-seasoned missionaries in need of encouragement (or just a good read)
-are desiring to or currently discipling others in the above categories
-serve on missions committees or missionary care groups
-are curious about real missionary life
I particularly appreciated that the chapters on singleness, marriage, and parenting weren't your typical how-to's, but rather provided helpful insight about the unique challenges of each circumstance on the field, alongside helpful, biblical advice. I am not going as a single but that chapter still had so much wisdom applicable for anyone, and will hopefully help me support single teammates better.
There is also a version of this book for men, which my husband enjoyed reading.
A must-read for women who:
-are preparing to be missionaries
-have recently landed in their host countries
-seasoned missionaries in need of encouragement (or just a good read)
-are desiring to or currently discipling others in the above categories
-serve on missions committees or missionary care groups
-are curious about real missionary life
I particularly appreciated that the chapters on singleness, marriage, and parenting weren't your typical how-to's, but rather provided helpful insight about the unique challenges of each circumstance on the field, alongside helpful, biblical advice. I am not going as a single but that chapter still had so much wisdom applicable for anyone, and will hopefully help me support single teammates better.
There is also a version of this book for men, which my husband enjoyed reading.
November 20, 2023
I wish I would have had this book before going. While this book is limited and does not touch on every possible topic you must know before you go, it graciously and wisely prepares the heart and mind for many possible realities overseas. Even if you aren't going, this book will help senders know how to better support those who do go! I see myself going back and listening to chapters again, as I have already done thus far. Additionally, a great discipleship tool to go through with the girlies that have a desire to go :))
January 17, 2024
Such a helpful book to read in preparation for going overseas for missions. The questions at the end of each chapter were really helpful to walk through thoughts and feelings.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews